A Paradise for land and marine species

The Marino Ballena National Park is located in Costa Ballena and belongs to the Osa Conservation Area. It extends from the Morete river mouth to Punta Piñuela. It was declared National Marine Park in 1989, and its limits extended in 1992. It has a land area of 284 acres and 13,276 acres of sea.

Exploring the Marino Ballena National Park

The focus of Marino Ballena National Park is to preserve the rich marine ecosystem and its pristine landscape value. In its warm waters, we find very interesting geological formations, such as sandy beaches, rocky cliffs, and small barren islands.

Offshore there is a row of small islands and submerged rocks, starting with Roca de la Viuda and followed by the famous Whale Tail, a 700 meters long sand isthmus, which at low tide can be walked between the two large bays, with a 360 ° view over the sea, the beaches, and the mountains. It is the largest coral reef on the Central America Pacific coast, forming a crescent necklace with three little islands known as The Three Sisters and Ballena (Whale) Island. The terraces are home to a large amount of habitat for countless marine species comprising 18 species of coral, whales, dolphins, sea turtles, fish, starfish, mollusks, crabs, sea fans and sponges, among others.

By protecting the coral reefs and keeping our beaches and rivers healthy, we take care of a unique and rich ecosystem, with is a breeding and reproduction area for whales and many marine species.

If you want to walk on the plunger or Paso de Moisés you should do it at low tide. During the low tide, you can walk to its very end.

The park is fortunate to receive two annual migrations of whales, the Humpback Whale of the North visits the South Pacific Coast from December to March and the humpback whale of the South begins migration in July which ends in October.

How to get to, schedules and fees

From San José, take Route 27 towards Orotina, pay attention to the exit to Jaco – Tárcoles, carry on to Parrita and Quepos, and follow the new Coastal Highway (route 34) to Dominical and from there to Uvita. Travel time: about 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Alternatively, from San José, take Cerro de la Muerte (Route 2), to San Isidro and then take route 234 to Uvita. Travel time: about 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Need help planning your next trip to Costa Rica? We look forward to helping you!

Share this:

Like this:

Eat, drink and be merry!

Our Library

by Susie Atkinson – photos: Isabelle Aubin Hidden within Costa Rica are different cultures and ethnic groups. There are eight indigenous groups in the country, and Costa Ballena’s closest community is the Borucans. Boruca’s history has been extremely challenging as they live on a reserve high in the Talamanca Mountains. Farming alone was not enough to […]

Ballena Tales is a Magazine & Travel Guide. Everything you need to know about Costa Ballena and Osa in the South Pacific of Costa Rica can be found here. From tides chart, discovering Local artists under Art & Culture to finding a Hotels in Osa, check out Tourism & Entertainment, we are here to lend you a hand. Discover the wonders of Costa Ballena and keep browsing to find all you’ll need to know about vacations in Costa Rica South Pacific Region.

%d bloggers like this:

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. OkRead more